There was no shortage of VIPs on Cianbro's jobsites during Wednesday, May 26th. In Massachusetts, on the Brightman Street Bridge Project linking Fall River and Somerset, Governor Deval Patrick paid a visit during a tour focusing on jobs in South Eastern Massachusetts. Cianbro Project Manager Kaven Philbrook assisted Massachusetts DOT District 5 Engineer Kevin Cassidy in showing the Governor the massive jobsite at Brightman. Cianbro Regional Vice President Linc Denison was also on hand for the visit.
"The Governor was extremely impressed with the construction, especially with the complexity of a bascule bridge, including the mechanical and electrical systems," says Philbrook. "He was very impressed that we self-perform all the work, and was also quite complimentary about our safety record."
During a speech made atop the bridge, the Governor said, "There’s a hopefulness in seeing people apply their skills and the value of doing the job now and for future generations to come.”
Philbrook points out that there is talk of a potential casino in southeastern Massachusetts, as well as more highway construction and a bio-industrial park. The Brightman Street Bridge is on schedule to reach the major milestone of allowing traffic across the span by the fall of this year.
300 miles to the southwest, the Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, visited the jobsite of the first casino in his state. The Governor had plenty of praise for the work being managed by Cianbro at the Hollywood Casino project in Perryville, Maryland. O'Malley joined Penn National Gaming CEO Peter Carlino and Cianbro's Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President Mike Hart for a tour of the facility, which is scheduled to open in October. O'Malley expressed surprise at the quick progress of construction at the jobsite, and talked about the potential for large crowds given the facility's convenient location near Interstate 95.
Cianbro Project Manager Jon DiCentes met with the Governor and Mr.Carlino during the visit. "It was an awesome meeting," says DiCentes. "Peter couldn't believe that we are this far along, and had to come see the progress with his own eyes. The Governor mentioned that we have made great strides despite the record snowfall we experienced last winter. The sense I got from everyone who visited is that they are very pleased." Among the other dignitaries on site were Cecil County Commissioners, the Maryland Lottery Commission and Perryville's mayor.